John William Davies, a respected farrier whose family operated a blacksmith’s shop in Dunston, Staffordshire, for five generations, died on February 3, 2026, at the age of 76.

Born on March 17, 1949, Davies grew up in Dunston, where the family blacksmith’s shop remained a landmark despite no longer being used as a smithy. Following in the footsteps of his father and ancestors, Davies began his apprenticeship as a farrier at age 15. His early training was informal, under the guidance of his father, but he later pursued formal qualification after the introduction of the Farrier Registration Act in 1975. The legislation criminalized the application of certain procedures to horses without official certification. Davies trained at Hereford College, which enabled him to continue the family business with a recognized professional status.

Over his career, Davies served a broad clientele, including private horse owners and racing stables across Staffordshire. He was known for his ability to manage even challenging horses, earning a solid reputation in the local equine community.

In his personal life, Davies married Sandra from Penkridge at the age of 21. The couple met in Stafford and went on to have three children: Joanne, Anthony, and Gemma. After the death of their father, Davies took over the family business. However, operations were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted travel and demand from racecourses and other customers.

During this period, Davies began to experience health issues and was diagnosed with diabetes. His condition eventually required him to move from Dunston to a bungalow in Cannock, which necessitated selling the family blacksmith’s shop and ending his farrier work. Unlike previous generations, his children did not continue the profession—his son Anthony opted for a career in computing, while his grandchildren did not pursue farriery.

Later in life, Davies was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative neurological disorder. His condition led to loss of limb function and required feeding through a tube. Despite these challenges, he maintained a positive demeanor and sense of humor. Davies spent his final weeks at St Giles Hospice near Lichfield, where he passed away peacefully.

His funeral drew considerable attendance, with farriers from across the county coming to pay their respects. John Davies is remembered as the last in a long line of Davies farriers who served the equine community of Staffordshire for over a century and a half.